News
BOI director says situation improving
The Board of Investment Director General Sanjaya Mohottala stated that more than 26,500 PCR tests have been carried out in the factories under the purview of BOI between Oct 8 and 28.
A statement issued by the BOI states that 16,527 PCRs had been done in the 14 Investment Promotion Zones and are awaiting results of another 495 tests. 423 COVID-19 infected patients have been identified with these tests out of which 411 from the Katunayake Zone and 12 from Biyagama Zone.
No cases have been reported thus far from the other 12 zones. Proper health and safety precautions are strictly adhered to in all the places including the houses, hostels, transportation and inside the factories in addition to constant reminders and workshops on workplace safety and health precautions. 7708 PCR tests have been done in 69 factories inside the Katunayake Zone. 3981 tests have been concluded in 48 factories in Biyagama. PCR tests have been done in all other zones as well.
Mohottala further states that more PCR tests will be done in accordance to the guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health.
There are 1615 factories which are under the BOI purview which are situated outside the Investment Zones. And 10,051 PCR tests have been done in these factories as well during this period of time.
Mr Mohottala commenting on COVID infected workers states: “…considering our zones, there is 411 from Katunayake and 12 from Biyagama but there seems to be a decline. And outside of the Zones from Gampaha District where the initial outbreak started there have been 1003 from our factories and 53 from the factories in Colombo District, three from Kurunegala District and one from Hambanthota.” He adds that all factories in general are strictly adhering to health and safety guidelines and the BOI Sri Lanka is upholding the relevant regulations
There are 1615 factories which are registered under the BOI Sri Lanka which are dispersed all over the 25 districts of the island. Around six hundred thousand are employed in these factories. And another hundred and thirty-three thousand are contributing to the production process inside the 14 Investment Zones. And other millions make their bread through the indirect employments provided via these factories. More than 70% of the export income is provided by this workforce.
The government owes a debt of gratitude to all the MOHs, PHIs, security forces, divisional secretaries, investors and staff, Navy unit attached to the Katunayake Zone and also the staff of BOI Sri Lanka going above and beyond their work description providing a holistic effort in controlling the spread of the second wave. If not for their excellent service and devotion the situation could have been very much worse.
In the prevailing global pandemic, to continue the national economy humming steadily, the production process must be carried out continuously. Mohottala concludes that he hopes that considering it as a duty of the nation, all the relevant parties would continue to adhere to health and safety guidelines and giving the necessary support, fulfilling the citizens’ responsibility.
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) has announced a revision of fuel prices, effective from midnight on Saturday (May 30).
Accordingly,
the price of Auto Diesel has been increased by Rs. 15 to Rs.407 per liter,
the price of Super Diesel has been increased by Rs. 20 to Rs. 478 per liter.
the price of Petrol 92 Octane has been increased by Rs. 24 to Rs. 434 per liter
the price of Petrol 95 Octane up by Rs. 25 to Rs. 495 per liter
the price of kerosene by Rs. 20 to Rs. 285 per liter.
Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has called for a comprehensive reform programme within Sri Lanka’s Buddhist clergy, warning that repeated efforts to strengthen the Sasana have in the past been derailed by opposition from within sections of the Sangha itself.
In a statement addressed to the Mahanayake Theras of the three Buddhist chapters, Kumaratunga stressed that the long-term preservation of Buddhism depends on safeguarding both the Dhamma and Vinaya, or disciplinary code, and urged urgent internal reform to address what she described as deep-rooted structural weaknesses.
She noted that Buddhist history has consistently demonstrated that periods of institutional crisis were addressed through reform processes, citing precedents from the First Buddhist Council to reforms during the Kandyan era under Welivita Sri Saranankara Thera.
Referring to post-independence efforts, Kumaratunga said initiatives taken during the 1956 Bandaranaike administration to strengthen Buddhism were left incomplete following the assassination of former Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.
She further stated that during her own presidency, plans to convene a Buddhist Council under the guidance of the late Madihe Pannasiha Mahanayake Thera had received government backing but were ultimately abandoned due to resistance from certain sections within the clergy.
The former President alleged that, on both occasions, vested interests benefiting from existing weaknesses within the Buddhist establishment had worked to obstruct meaningful reform efforts.
Warning that Buddhism in Sri Lanka is currently facing serious challenges, she called for a broad internal dialogue within the Sangha to identify root causes and implement both short- and long-term corrective measures.
Kumaratunga urged the Mahanayake Theras to take the lead in convening a Dharma Sanghayana, or Buddhist Council, and said she was prepared to work with senior lay Buddhist leaders to support such an initiative.
The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on Friday ordered the arrest of former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Bhashwara Gunaratne, Managing Director Rumi Jauffer and several others over the alleged misuse of Rs. 7.8 million belonging to the Tourism Promotion Authority during the 2014 Uva Provincial Council election campaign.
Magistrate Pasan Amarasena directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to arrest and produce the suspects before court, after it was informed that they would be named under the Public Property Act on the advice of the Attorney General.
The CID told court that attempts to take the suspects into custody from their residences had been unsuccessful as they were not present.
The Magistrate also imposed an overseas travel ban on the suspects and ordered that the Controller of Immigration and Emigration be notified.
Investigations have reportedly revealed that the funds were used to print 12,000 T-shirts bearing an image of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa on one side and the name of a political party on the other.
According to the CID, the T-shirts were later distributed at a political event held in the Monaragala District.
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